I am probably right in assuming that many of your readers have had bad experiences on our roads as a result of either encountering a driver distracted and driving erratically or recklessly because of cell phone, texting or other electronic activity, or indeed because they have shocked themselves because they were on their cell phone, became distracted, and then found themselves in a threatening situation. Some of your readers may have been involved in accidents with injury as a result of all the above. I hope that none have suffered the sad effects of a tragic family fatality from such causes.

As a concerned citizen I wrote recently to Governor McDonnell of Virginia requesting that he introduce legislation to ban on Virginia roads the use of these devices by drivers. My letter which is reproduced in full below lays out the case for legislation. I will not repeat the arguments, except to make additional points. Typically it takes a lot of self evident information, and often many fatalities, before legislation is passed. Data is required. On reflection, the very sad observation is, simply stated, that it takes many lives, often thousands (in the case of the DUI laws) before restraining laws are enacted. May I suggest that we should not wait any longer for such time to pass and lives be wasted. None of us want any of our loved ones to be hurt or worst case killed by irresponsible and reckless drivers distracted by these devices. By the same token none of us who are decent, honest people who never in their whole lives ever want to harm anyone, want to find that they have seriously hurt or killed someone because of a foolish reckless moment in time that costs another human dearly and their families bereavement. It is far better to have legislation than remorse.

May I encourage you please to write to our Governor, Robert F. McDonnell, and encourage him to introduce the legislation described in my letter. Many of you may not have time for lengthy epistles, so please just quote my letter below and say you support this. Also, since we live in the greatest democracy on earth and we have complete freedom of speech, and if you do not agree with me, then here is an opportunity to say so. It's a free country thank goodness. My letter is reproduced below.

Dear Governor McDonnell:

The Evans-Wells family were so pleased to read the letter that you wrote to my wife, Dr. Carol Evans, commending her for her fine work in preparing Virginia at the federal, state and local levels for dealing with a range of threats and disasters that may occur, and for which our great Commonwealth is now better prepared thanks to her expertise and those with whom she works.

May I take this opportunity to raise another threat to our citizens in Virginia please?

Recent reports now indicate that our fellow citizens are more likely to be killed by a driver who is using a cell phone, texting, or another electronic device while driving than by a driver under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. This is a daunting situation.

Other highly reliable reports from recent research by credible institutions indicate that the distraction factor for those drivers using cell phones, and texting while driving, is on the order of 30-40 %, and even higher in some cases, depending on several factors such as age, health, amount of sleep, stress, other distractions in the vehicle, and so on.

Within the past twelve months I have personally experienced three very serious instances of almost being driven off the road and receiving serious injury as a result of oncoming drivers both using a cell phone and driving too fast. In one recent instance, on the Zulu Road, near Middleburg, Virginia, a driver came round a bend at high speed as I was approaching from the opposite direction, half on my side of the road, and cell phone glued to his ear (with one hand on the steering wheel). Only because I am an experienced defensive driver did I avert a serious accident and injury by taking avoiding action to the right without driving off the road into trees.

I speak from experience as someone involved in emergency medicine. I have been a US National Ski patroller for four decades and seen the results of recklessness, and treated severely injured persons. I am currently the Vice President of The Plains Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company in Virginia, and a Life Member.

May I request that you introduce legislation to ban the use of cell phones, texting and other electronic devices while a person is driving a vehicle in Virginia, both on state roads, and also on non state roads? The latter would include, for example, school premises (both state and private) where people are equally at risk.

We can all remember the days when it took some time for legislative processes to introduce the drinking and driving laws, and then later the seat belt laws. These critical legislative acts have saved countless lives in Virginia and all over the United States. The data clearly indicate that we should do the same regarding the use of cell phones, texting and other electronic devices while driving.

Thank you again for your commendation of my wife's terrific efforts, and I quote your letter, "for helping to ensure the Commonwealth of Virginia continues to maintain a robust capability to prevent, respond, and recover from any challenges affecting the safety and security of our citizens".

Finally, thank you for your service as Governor and leading in the endeavors for which Carol was commended.